For some years now I have connected each morning in a triangle meditation with two people living in other parts of the world. One of these people, Starling Hunter, has compiled a list of all the examples of The Great Invocation spoken or set to music that he could find. The link to this list is found below:

“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”

The following post recently arrived in my inbox from AVAAZ. It would seem that some would prefer we not have free access to the internet. Please read the post and add your support asking US Congress to reconsider the bill that could further reduce the right of free speech across the cyber airwaves.

Right now, the US Congress is debating a law that would give them the power to censor the world’s Internet — creating a blacklist that could target YouTube, WikiLeaks and even groups like Avaaz!

Under the new law, the US could force Internet providers to block any website on suspicion of violating copyright or trademark legislation, or even failing to sufficiently police their users’ activities. And, because so much of the Internet’s hosts and hardware are located in the US, their blacklist would clamp down on the free web for all of us.

The vote could happen any day now, but we can help stop this — champions in Congress want to preserve free speech and tell us that an international outcry would strengthen their hand. Let’s urgently raise our voices from every corner of the world and build an unprecedented global petition calling on US decision makers to reject the bill and stop Internet censorship. Click below to sign and then forward as widely as possible — our message will be delivered directly to key members of the US Congress ahead of the crucial vote:

For years, the US government has condemned countries like China and Iran for their clampdown on Internet use. But now, the impact of America’s new censorship laws could be far worse — effectively blocking sites to every Internet user across the globe.

Last year, a similar Internet censorship bill was killed before reaching the US Senate floor, but it’s now back in a different form. Copyright laws already exist and are enforced by courts. But this new law goes much further — granting the government and big corporations enormous powers to force service providers and search engines to block websites based just on allegations of violations — without a trial or being found guilty of any crime!

US free speech advocates have already raised the alarm, and some key Senators are trying to gather enough support to stop this dangerous bill. We have no time to lose. Let’s stand with them to ensure American lawmakers preserve the right to a free and open Internet as an essential way for people around the world to exchange ideas, share communication and work collectively to build the world we want. Sign below to stop US censorship, and save the Internet as we know it:

In the past months, from the Arab Spring to the global Occupy Movement, we’ve seen first hand how the Internet can galvanize, unify and change the world. Now, if we stand together, we can stop this new attack on Internet freedom. We’ve done it before — in Brazil and Italy, Avaaz members have won major victories in the fight for a free Internet. Let’s take the fight global, and mobilize to defeat the most powerful censorship threat that the Internet has ever seen.

With hope,

Luis, Dalia, Diego, Emma, Ricken, Aaron, Antonia, Benjamin and the rest of the Avaaz team

“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”

They say politics is personal. We’re seeing a classic case of that in New Zealand at present. Despite National’s intent to sell off the country, instigate dangerous off shore deep oil drilling and continue the flow of money from the poor and middle class to the rich, the party still polls high. Why? Because John Key comes across as a genuinely nice fellow. And I suspect he is. But is that any reason to vote for his party? Is that any reason to support a party that thinks and speaks only in terms of money and seems to have forgotten there are people out here . . . and an environment?

The timing of the Rena disaster is immaculate, if we can just learn from it. Rena’s tanks contained 1,700 tonnes of oil. That has been enough to cause considerable destruction to sea life and coastlines in the Bay of Plenty. But this event is nothing compared with the scale of devastation caused by the Deepwater Horizon exploratory rig in the Gulf of Mexico last year. That rig spilt a phenomenal 650,000 tonnes of oil over a period of nearly three months, wreaking havoc on untold sea life and the coastal communities of four states.

Current plans are to drill in six deep water areas off some of New Zealand’s most spectacular pieces of coast, including the west coast of the Far North. If there were an accident the scale of Deepwater Horizon, an unimaginable outcome would await all New Zealanders. Is this what you want? Is this the legacy you wish to leave for your children? We haven’t managed to deal effectively with the Rena calamity. How could we possibly contend with something almost 400 times worse?

I believe it is time to rethink our priorities. I believe it is time to change a consciousness beset with short term thinking to one that takes responsibility for the generations to follow. I believe it is time to reconsider your traditional voting and support a party that truly speaks for the little person and truly supports an environment on which all life depends. I believe it is time to vote Green.

“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”

For anyone who’s read my review of Greg Mortenson’s efforts as described in the wonderful book Three Cups of Tea here is another extremely uplifting example of what one person armed with the right skills and will can do to make a huge difference in the lives of many of the world’s poor. The man’s name is John Wood and he recently handed out his 10 millionth book at a library that his team founded in a village in the Mekong Delta. Wood’s charity, Room to Read, has opened 12,000 libraries around the world, along with 1,500 schools. How’s that for an awesome achievement?

“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”

The following recording is only a couple of minutes long so have a listen. In it I encourage voters in the upcoming New Zealand election to cast their party vote for the Greens and play their small part in protecting New Zealand’s resources for generations to come. I refer to Richard St. Barbe-Baker (founder of Men of the Trees) and Chief Seattle in making my case.

“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”

“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”